Common Protea

Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of South African flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: suikerbos)

The Proteaceae family to which proteas belong is an ancient one. Its ancestors grew in Gondwana, 300 million years ago. Proteaceae is divided into two subfamilies: the Proteoideae, best represented in southern Africa, and the Grevilleoideae, concentrated in Australia and South America and the other smaller segments of Gondwana that are now part of eastern Asia. Africa shares only one genus with Madagascar, whereas South America and Australia share many common genera — this indicates they separated from Africa before they separated from each other.

Proteas attracted the attention of botanists visiting the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century. Many species were introduced to Europe in the 18th century, enjoying a unique popularity at the time amongst botanists.

Reptiles

Reptiles

Agama Boomslang (Tree Snake) Tree Agama Egyptian Cobra Flap-necked Chameleon Nile Crocodile Common...

Mammals

Mammals

Aardvark (Antbear) Chacma Baboon Lesser Bushbaby Thick-tailed Bushbaby Dassie (Hyrax) Caracal...

Grasses

Grasses

Croceras macrum Andropogon gayanus Andropogon chinensis Aristida adscensionis Aristida cangesta...

Overview

Overview

The Highveld terrain is generally devoid of mountains, consisting of rolling plains, especially in...

Redgras (Rooigras)

Redgras (Rooigras)

Themeda triandra is a perennial grass widespread in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific. In...

Natal Redtop Grass

Natal Redtop Grass

Melinis repens is a species of grass known by the common names rose Natal grass, or simply Natal...

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